Gazzaniga on 'one of the best years of my career'

As we look to the future, Paulo Gazzaniga can’t help but glance over his shoulder at the 2018/19 season and smile.

A summer 2017 signing from Southampton following a year on loan at Rayo Vallecano in Spain, the Argentine goalkeeper’s career has reached new heights in the last 12 months.

Starting the season as third choice between the sticks, the agile stopper was drafted in for a run of games in September, 2018, and performed brilliantly in all of them, elevating himself up the pecking order in the process.

A penalty shootout-winning display against Watford in the Carabao Cup was sandwiched in between impressive Premier League outings at Brighton and Huddersfield, with a Champions League debut in a 2-1 home win over PSV to cap it all in November. A first call-up and subsequent debut for Argentina followed and he continued to push himself with us during the second half of the season, preferred in goal in the cup competitions and picking up another Premier League appearance at Manchester City in April.

By his own admission, it was a gruelling campaign, but one that’s put him in a great position going into 2019/20.

“The season was long, I was involved in some games – big games – and, for me, it’s been one of the best years in my career,” said the 27-year-old, who hails from Murphy – the same Argentine town as Mauricio Pochettino – and who made 11 appearances in total last term.

“To reach the final of the Champions League, not everyone can experience that. Also, the first call for the national team, my debut in the Champions League… everything for me has been amazing and can still be even better.”

Touching on the camaraderie among the squad of players and staff, Paulo added: “It’s amazing here. We are like brothers. Everyone is friends with one another, together, a team. This is not a group of players, this is a team, a proper team.

“As goalkeepers, we share most of the time with each other, with Toni (Jimenez, goalkeeping coach). It’s a pleasure. The other goalkeepers give me so much advice, teach me so much. I try to learn from what they say, try to give my best and put that onto the pitch. Toni as well… I don’t know if there is another coach like Toni. He’s amazing.”